At The Myton Hospices, we are always looking for new ways to support people living with a life-limiting illness and to work collaboratively with partners across Coventry and Warwickshire.

We are delighted to have welcomed the Personalised Care Team from University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust to our sites to deliver two specialist support courses for people living with a life-limiting cancer diagnosis – HOPE (Helping Overcome Problems Effectively) and Take Control.

By hosting these sessions within our friendly, non-clinical spaces, we hoped to challenge misconceptions about hospice care by helping people feel at ease within a hospice environment and empower participants to take an active role in managing their wellbeing.

We are proud to share that feedback from those who attended has been incredibly positive.

The HOPE programme is a six-week course designed to build resilience, encourage goal-setting, and support emotional wellbeing. Participants joined us following referrals from a range of UHCW departments. Many left feeling more confident, more informed, and more in control of their healthcare journey. One attendee told us the HOPE course:

…helped me realise I’m not alone. Setting goals and hearing others’ stories gave me the confidence to take control of my own journey.

The Take Control course for palliative patients was co-developed with our Community Engagement Manager, Olivia Bowskill, Registered Nurse.

Patients and their carers attended together, with referrals again coming from several UHCW departments. This programme introduced people to Myton’s services and shared practical approaches to resilience and self-care.

Crucially, carers were invited to attend, helping families feel informed and supported as a whole. One participant told us:

The Take Control course gave me and my family tools to manage better day-to-day. It was reassuring to know we’re not just being left to cope on our own.

Another shared:

It helped my partner understand what I’m going through, and we both felt more supported.

Olivia Bowskill, Community Engagement Manager at The Myton Hospices, said:

A common misconception is that hospices are dark or solemn places, or only somewhere you go at the very end of life. These sessions showed just how far from the truth that is. For many people, it was their first time visiting a hospice, and several arrived unsure of what to expect. They left understanding that our hospices are warm, welcoming and safe spaces to learn and feel supported.

But most importantly, the sessions enabled people to access palliative care support earlier, helping to improve outcomes and experiences for both patients and their families. Many participants told us they felt more confident managing aspects of their condition after taking part – which is the key part of personalised care.

Julie Bliss, Personalised Care Programme Manager – Cancer at UHCW, said:

We have strengthened our partnership with The Myton Hospices to deliver vital support for people and their loved ones affected by cancer. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to improving health, wellbeing and quality of life across the region. These programmes equip patients with practical tools and emotional strategies to manage the challenges of living with cancer.

This collaboration has highlighted the value of working together to improve the experiences of people living with life-limiting illnesses.

Hosting the courses at Myton has strengthened our partnership with UHCW, enabled people to access palliative support earlier, increased awareness of our services, and demonstrated the positive impact community-based care can have on wellbeing and quality of life.

Feedback has also supported the development of a model that could be extended more widely across the community. The programme directly supports the NHS Long Term Plan and aligns with our strategy to extend our reach and work in partnership to improve outcomes for patients and families.

Following the success of these courses, we are excited to continue this partnership into 2026.

We hope to offer further sessions, develop new modules tailored to different needs, and strengthen our links with community services so that even more people across Coventry and Warwickshire can benefit from early, personalised care and support.

If you or someone you know could benefit from our support, you can find more information about our services and how to access them on our website through the link below!

Find out more HERE!